Framework plans OCuLink eGPU Dev Kit for Laptop 16 this year

In short: Framework says it will ship an OCuLink eGPU Dev Kit this year that lets Framework Laptop 16 owners connect external graphics cards, but it is aimed at advanced users.

What happened

Framework is preparing its first external GPU setup, which it calls the OCuLink Dev Kit. An external GPU, or eGPU, is a separate graphics card you connect to a laptop to get more graphics power (like adding a bigger engine to a small car, while keeping the same driver’s seat).

The kit uses OCuLink, a cable standard that can move data quickly between the laptop’s main processor and an outside graphics card. Framework says this can support “eight lanes” of PCIe, which is a way of describing how much data can flow at once (like having more lanes on a highway).

Framework CEO Nirav Patel told The Verge the product is not as simple as Thunderbolt accessories, and it is meant for enthusiasts and power users. Users generally cannot plug and unplug it while the laptop is running, and Framework recommends shutting down before connecting or disconnecting.

Framework says the offering is intentionally barebones to keep costs down. Buyers may need their own desktop power supply, and they may need to 3D print a stand. Framework also plans to release design files so people can print their own parts.

Framework described three components: an internal add-in card that gives the Laptop 16 an OCuLink port, an adapter for Framework’s removable Laptop 16 graphics module, and an adapter for a desktop graphics card. The company did not share pricing or a specific release date.

Why it matters

For Laptop 16 owners who want more graphics power for games or creative work, this could be a way to make a laptop act more like a desktop. For most people, the extra setup steps and the need to shut down before unplugging may make it less convenient than simpler plug-in accessories.

Source: The Verge AI